Several weeks late, Apple finally presented the second generation of its 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros in January 2024. The recipe does not change muchcompared to the first, but the speed of execution is there thanks to more efficient chips. This is also the spearhead of the technical sheet. But other notable assets are also in the game now. Let's take stock.
1 – Performance
It is therefore the processors which, above all, distinguish the MacBook Pro 2024 from their predecessors. Apple has chosen here to focus on the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips, which the user can configure but only during purchase. The base version of the M2 Pro consists of a ten-core CPU with a sixteen-core graphics card and a sixteen-core Neural Engine as well. As for the most powerful M2 Max, its CPU increases to twelve cores for thirty-eight for the GPU.
To this, it will of course be necessary to add a certain amount of RAM. The minimum is 16 GB with an M2 Pro chip, a figure which can increase to 96 GB by upgrading to M2 Max. It is not possible to change this feature after ordering the MacBook Pro.
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On the charging side, the 2024 MacBook Pros come with a 67-watt USB-C power adapter. However, this only concerns the slowest models, since the 16-inch MacBook Pro with M2 Max chip comes automatically with the same accessory but at 140 watts.
2 – High quality screens
The 2024 MacBook Pros come in two sizes. The first comes with a diagonal of exactly 14.2 inches, compared to 16.2 inches for the largest. In terms of pure definition, it will be respectively 3,024 by 1,964 pixels and 3,456 by 2,234 pixels. The brightness reaches 1,600 nits at its maximum, but remember that this is an exponential factor in energy consumption.
With this, know that the two screens of the MacBook Pro 2024 are equipped with True Tone technology which adapts the colors depending on the environment in order to less tire the owner's eyes. Night mode is also there to do this. Finally, Apple has thought of an adaptive refresh rate reaching one hundred and twenty frames per second. This makes playing video games even more compelling, whether with Apple Arcade or other services.
Please note that Apple also markets aedition of the MacBook Pro with M2 chip and without notch.
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3 – Battery life of 14 and 16 inch MacBook Pros
The 2024 14-inch MacBook Pro and 16-inch MacBook Pro have a major improvement: that of their endurance. Indeed, the 14-inch MacBook Pro now offers twelve hours of wireless web browsing autonomy compared to eleven hours for its predecessor. As for the 16-inch MacBook Pro, it will now be fifteen hours on the clock. Enough to last a good day of work, then.
Of course, these figures remain estimates obtained in the laboratory by Apple. The use of each one could change the situation. But we don't see any major difference between the M2 Pro and the M2 Max in terms of energy expenditure.
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4 – Storage options for 2024 MacBook Pros
When ordering a new MacBook Pro, you will also need to choose the internal storage. No traditional hard drive here, but an SSD, which allows you to launch programs more quickly. Here again it is not possible to modify the option after purchase, however as we will see later USB ports are there to connect accessories with external memory if necessary.
In total, customers have the choice between:
- un SSD de 512 Go
- un SSD de 1 To
- un SSD de 2 To
- un SSD de 4 To
- un SSD de 8 To
Be careful, however, because the 512 GB is not accessible with an M2 Max chip on MacBook Pro 16-inch 2024.
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5 – Design, dimensions and weight
Now let's move on to the question of design. Without doubt, MacBooks are among the best on the market. The only downside, and not the least: the weight, which is quite heavy. We are talking here about more than 2 kilograms for the 16-inch MacBook Pro, compared to around 1.6 kg for the 14-inch MacBook Pro. Note also that the M2 Max motherboard adds a few grams on the scale, but it is negligible.
The shell of the MacBook Pro 2024 is made of aluminum. Here, an advantage and a disadvantage. The advantage is ecological, because the material is recycled. On the other hand, it is also very crumbly: you will only need to knock your MacBook Pro a little to mark it. However, this is a factor that can lower the trade-in price.
In terms of pure dimensions, the 2024 14-inch MacBook Pro measures 1.55 cm x 31.26 cm x 22.12 cm. While the 16-inch MacBook Pro from 2024 is thicker (1.68 cm) and larger than an A4 sheet: 35.57 cm x 24.81 cm. The borders around the screen are quite thin, which is made possible in particular by the notch deflecting the camera at the top of it. It's not very aesthetic and we know that Apple is also working on sensor technology under the screen, but that will be for later.
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On a daily basis, using a MacBook Pro 2024 is very pleasant. The touch is soft and smooth, without the slightest hitch. Small pads located under the shell also prevent slipping when the laptop is placed on a flat surface. As for the different ports for connecting peripherals or recharging the device, these are located on either side of the keyboard, on the two left and right edges. Which is much more practical than plugs placed at the back as many competitors do.
6 – A smart keyboard
Now let's talk about the keyboard. For some time now, the Touch Bar has not been available on MacBook Pros. Instead, users can take advantage of traditional function keys that do the same job very well. You can adjust the screen brightness, mute the sound or even display a preview of all the apps open in macOS in the blink of an eye.
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There is also a button dedicated to Touch ID. Simply place your finger on it to register a fingerprint in the system. Then, you can use it to unlock the computer without typing your password. As on a third generation iPhone SE, this also works very well on MacBook Pro 2024. To finish with the keyboard, let us point out that the escape key is also included, to quickly exit full screen mode for example.
7 – MacBook Pro 14 and 16 inches: connectivity
On the network side, the MacBook Pro 2024 offers a whole new standard: Wi-Fi 6E. This is advertised as offering better speeds than Wi-Fi 6, which is very practical when watching series with Netflix or Apple TV+. As a bonus, Apple has chosen this time to focus on Bluetooth 5.3, which consumes less energy and is faster for transferring files wirelessly between devices.
Apple also offers its own solution for sending documents, AirDrop. This uses Wi-Fi and only works with other devices of the same brand: iPhone, iPad or Mac. Speed is the order of the day; with a good connection, receiving a 100 MB photo file only takes a few seconds to be fully effective.
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Unlike iOS mobiles, the 2024 MacBook Pros do not offer satellite connectivity: you will need to have a nearby access point to access the web. There is also no SIM card port in the case, unlike some iPads. It's quite a shame. Moreover, you should know that the modem, designed by a subcontractor, is very effective in town. Elsewhere, this depends on your access provider, but Apple's hardware always ensures.
8 – Camera and sound of MacBook Pro 2024
The 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pros from 2024 come with a front camera, therefore cut out by the notch. This offers a 1080p definition, which remains quite limited but sufficient for videos. Unfortunately, the Centered Frame functionality of the iPad or Studio Display is not included. It's a shame, especially at this price.
On the audio side, the speakers do very well. This is the best sound we've seen of any laptop we've tested in the last five years. A speaker is installed on each side of the keyboard, right and left. However, we regret that no alert of too high a level is planned, to protect the health of users.
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9 – The sockets of the MacBook Pro 2024
The MacBook Pro 2024 comes with USB-C sockets, for connecting third-party accessories although it is recommended to favor the Apple brand to do this. An HDMI plug is also included for your external monitors, but we don't really understand the manufacturer's choice since most screen manufacturers have now switched to the universal standard.
The same goes for recharging: here, you will have to deal with a MagSafe socket. Certainly, this is very practical with its magnet, which prevents damage to the port in the event of improper handling. But this also means that you won't be able to borrow cable from just anyone, and given the price of the equipment, that's a real shame.
10 – macOS Ventura and its apps on MacBook Pro
All 2024 MacBook Pros, whether the 14-inch version or the 16-inch version, come with macOS Ventura. This version is, at the time of their release, the most advanced of Apple's proprietary operating system. Several very practical apps are automatically installed, such as the iWork suite which includes the Pages word processing software, the Numbers spreadsheet and the PowerPoint-like Keynote.
With its 2024 MacBook Pros, Apple is also focusing on security. It is therefore quite difficult to install services that are not from the App Store, which in theory avoids encountering viruses. Users are also rare to install an antivirus. With iCloud, the publisher even offers end-to-end encryption for files synced online. And this, at no additional cost.
macOS Ventura also offers perfect integration with the rest of the Apple ecosystem. Thanks to the Handoff functionality, for example, you can start watching a series on Apple TV with your iPhone and resume it immediately on your MacBook Pro 2024 without cutting a single second of the audio or video stream. We can also mention AirPlay, which launches Spotify or Apple Music playlists in the blink of an eye on your HomePod or your AirPods Pro.
11 – Conclusion: our opinion
So, what do we think of the 2024 14-inch MacBook Pro and 16-inch MacBook Pro? They are real gems, without a doubt. These are the fastest Apple laptops on the market. The screens are sublime, especially the large 16-inch display. We will only regret a format that is too compact for the 14-inch, as well as a thickness beyond that of the 16-inch MacBook Pro with an Intel chip.
